Skoda Superb Owner's Manual page 147

WARNING (Continued)
The seat belts for the rear seats can only fulfil their function reliably when
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the seat backrests are correctly locked into position
The belt webbing must always be kept clean. Soiled belt webbing may im-
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pair proper operation of the inertia reel
The seat belts must not be removed or changed in any way. Do not attempt
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to repair the seat belts yourself.
Check the condition of all the seat belts on a regular basis. If any damage to
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the seat belts, seat belt tongue, inertia reel or the lock is detected, the rele-
vant seat belt must be replaced by a ŠKODA specialist garage.
Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an accident and
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were therefore stretched, must be replaced - this is best done by a ŠKODA
specialist garage. The anchorage points for the belts should also be checked.
Note
The national legal requirements must be observed when using seat belts.
The physical principle of a frontal collision
Fig. 137 Driver without a fastened seat belt/rear seat passenger without a
fastened seat belt
ä
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 144.
The physical principle of a frontal collision can be explained quite simply.
» page 71.
» page 173, Seat belts.
Motion energy, so-called kinetic energy, is produced as soon as the vehicle is
moving, both for the vehicle and its occupants. The magnitude of this kinetic en-
ergy depends essentially on the speed at which the vehicle is travelling and on
the weight of the vehicle including the occupants. The greater the speed and
weight increase, the greater the amount of energy which has to be absorbed in
the event of an accident.
The speed of the vehicle is, nevertheless, the most important factor. Doubling the
speed of the vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour increases the kinetic energy
four times.
The common opinion that it is possible to support your body in a minor accident
with your hands, is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low speed, the forces
acting on the body are such that it is no longer possible to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces that your body
is exposed to in the event of an accident can exceed a tonne (1 000 kg).
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the car not wearing a seat belt, are
thrown forward and strike in an uncontrolled way parts of the interior of the car,
Ð
such as steering wheel, dash panel or windscreen
stances you could even be thrown out of the vehicle, which could cause life
threatening or even fatal injuries.
It is also important that rear seat occupants fasten their seat belts as they will
otherwise be thrown through the vehicle in an uncontrolled manner in the event
of an accident A rear seat passenger who has not fastened the seat belt is a dan-
ger not only to himself but also for those seated at the front
» Fig. 137 - . In certain circum-
» Fig. 137 - .
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145
Seat belts